ADRIAN HEATH is banking on a Coventry City backlash to avoid another drubbing at the hands of Crystal Palace tonight (8pm).

The Sky Blues assistant manager aims to remind the players that they were comprehensively thumped 4-1 at the Ricoh Arena last month in order to get a response and put up a better fight in the return match at Selhurst Park.

"Palace were very good on the day against a poor performance from us, but they have got good players and are one of the favourites to go up," said Heath, who revealed City are likely to be without skipper Stephen Hughes for the match.

"They have got the best four forwards in the division in my eyes in Andy Johnson, Dougie Freedman, Clinton Morrison and Jon Macken, so whichever two from the four they pick will be a threat up front.

"We know we will be up against it and if we play like we did against them at the Ricoh then we will suffer the same outcome. But I am convinced that we will be better. We will have to be.

"With the result that we had I think it will make us a little bit more determined because we know that if we are not at it then the same sort of result will follow.

"But the one thing about a lot of footballers is that they have got a lot of pride and we will certainly be mentioning the fact that we got turned over by Palace last month and we will expect them to respond in the right way."

As for the team news, Heath admitted that City may well revert back to a more solid-looking 3-5-2 away from home depending on the availability of players. But one who may well feature again is youngster Kevin Thornton who made his senior debut against Palace in September in the Carling Cup.

"Kevin is progressing nicely and that fact that Hughesy is out with an Achilles injury might give him another chance to start, so we will wait and see," said Heath.

"Stephen has been for a scan and at this stage he is looking doubtful. Marcus Hall has got a slight knock and Michael Doyle has taken a bang on his hip, but as per usual he came out and trained on Monday. Although he was limping like hell after the game on Saturday he said he will be OK for tonight, which what we have come to expect from Doyler.

"So we expect most of them to be fit but whether there will be changes to the system you will have to wait and see.

"Playing three at the back is an option but a lot will depend on whether people like Marcus are fit."